Hair curler with one-piece flexible hair fastening frame



Nov. 28, 1967 D. G. ZEMAN 3,354,389

HAIR CURLER WITH ONE-PIECE FLEXIBLE HAIR FASTENING FRAME Filed Nov. 27, 1964 FIG. 1. L

I NVENTOR.

55 DA V/D 6. ZEMAA/ BY 2 E DWAED D. OER/AN United States Patent 3,354,889 HAIR CURLER WITH ONE-PIECE FLEXIBLE HAIR FASTENING FRAME David G. Zeman, 2455 W. 190th St., Redondo Beach, Calif. 90278 Filed Nov. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 414,147 1 Claim. (Cl. 13241) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The hair curler has a frame structure and a pin extending lengthwise of the frame structure, with the frame structure and pin unitarily formed of a fiexible polymer composition material. A detent opening is formed in the frame structure to receive the end of the pin to detent the pin therein. However, the structure is sufficiently flexible that the pin can be flexed out of the detent opening. A resilient roller is positioned around the pin and within the frame structure when the pin is detented in place, to complete the hair curler.

In the present day and age of womens hair styles, roller type hair curlers are in wide use. These curlers are of several different natures depending upon the type of use and upon the desired hair style. However, one of the most common and widely used types of roller hair curlers is the type where a relatively soft, porous roller carries the hair wound thereabout, and a frame surrounding the roller maintains the hair in position on the roller. Since these rollers are fairly soft, it is difficult to simply embrace a frame thereabout and expect it to stay in position. Therefore, it is conventional to have a center pivot pin engaged through the center of the roller both as a roller bearing mount and as a means to retain the frame in position. The surrounding frame must be mounted so the center pivot pin is hingeable away from it and accordingly, the center pivot pin and frame become a two part structure in conventional practice. Such two part structures are more expensive to make, for two pieces must be handled. Furthermore, these two parts must be assembled and this requires labor.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a hair curler having a relatively soft porous roller and having a pivot pin positioned down the center of the roller and a frame positioned around the roller with the pivot pin integrally formed with the frame and alternatively positionable with respect to it.

It is another object of this invention to provide an integral frame and pivot pin for a hair curler roller which has a self, flexible hinge jointure therebetween and which is provided with a snap acting latch'which detachably retains the pivot pin substantially aligned with the frame so that the pivot pin may be selectively swung with respect to the frame.

It is another object of this invention to provide a process by which an integral pivot pin and frame for a hair curler roller can be produced quickly, economically and effectively.

It is another object of this invention to provide a frame with integral pivot pin for a hair curler structure which, by reason of its integral nature, can be produced economically and which provides a maximum amount of utility.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portion of this specification, the claim and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hair curler embodying the structure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the integral frame and pivot pin structure of the hair curler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged right hand elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section, with parts broken away, taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken through a mold, with parts broken away, showing the mold structure for producing the detent structure of the hair curler of the instant invention.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a hair curler and the process for making the hair curler. The hair curler is in the natureof a relatively soft porous cylindrical roller, having a center pivot pin hole and a frame embracing the roller. The frame has an integral pivot pin secured thereto in such a manner as to be hingeable with respect thereto. Furthermore, the pin is detented on its end opposite the hinge so that it may be positioned essentially in the plane of the frame, to retain the frame around the roller and may be snapped out of detented position to swing the frame away from the roller for the curling of the hair around the roller. When the pivot pin is detented into the frame, the frame serves as a hair holder which retains hair around the roller to develop curls therein.

This invention will be understood in greater detail by reference to the following portion of the specification wherein the drawings are described. Referring now to FIG. 1, the hair curler of this invention is generally indicated therein at 10. The hair curler 10 generally comprises a roller 12 and frame structure 14. Roller 12 is conventionally of cylindrical shape, as shown, which has an outer cylindrical surface 16 and terminates in appropriate ends. Furthermore, roller 12 has .an interior bore 18 for reception of the pivot pin of frame structure 14. Roller 12 is preferably of polymer composition material in foamed condition so that it is very resilient and yet is capable of holding hair wrapped therearound in generally circular curls.

As is better seen in FIGS. 2 through 5, frame structure 14 comprises a generally rectangular frame defined by side rails 20 and 22, hinge end 24 and detent end 26, as well as pin 28. The dimensions of roller 12 are such that the outer cylindrical surface 16 thereof has a diameter which is slightly greater than the interior distance between side rails 20 and 22, as is seen in FIG. 4. The length of roller 12 is approximately equal to the distance between the interior surfaces of hinge end 24 and detent end 26. Furthermore, the bore 18 is approximately equal to the maximum dimensions of pin 28.

The cross section of each of the side rails 20 and 22 is approximately trapezoidal, as is the main cross section in each of the ends 24 and 26. These sections are provided with suitable draft so that a mold parting generally in the plane of frame structure 14 can readily release the frame structure. Hinge end 24 is provided with a projection 30 for purposes of reinforcement and appearance. Detent end 26 is provided with a similar projection 32 which has detent opening 34 molded therein in a direction generally longitudinally of frame structure 14. Detent opening 34 is larger at its right end, as is seen in FIG. 5, to permit easy withdrawal of the molding plunger which creates this opening.

Pin 28, through the central portion of its length, is formed of horizontal web 36 and vertical web 38 which are integrally formed and intersect to form a cross. The horizontal and vertical directions are assigned when the frame structure 14 is lying in a generally horizontal plane. Vertical web 38 terminates short of the interior surfaces 40 and 42 of ends 24 and 26 respectively.

Integrally formed with horizontal web 36 adjacent hinge end 24 is hinge web 44. Hinge web 44 is sufificiently thin to provide quite free hinging of pin 28 with respect to the remainder of frame structure 14, and yet besufi'iciently strong as to firmly retain the pin 28 as part of the remainder of frame structure 14. The actual dimensions of hinge web 44 are dependent upon the physical characteristics of the material used for the molding of frame structure 14. Web 44 is integrally formed with both pin 28 and hinge end 24 during the molding of frame structure: 14.

The end of pin 28 opposite hinge web 44 is the detent end thereof. At the detent end horizontal Web 36 has -'an extension of reduced Width which forms detent 46.

Detent 46 is of such length as to extend past interior surface 42 so that it can enter into detent opening 34. However, the thickness of detent Web 46, together with the overall flexibility of frame structure 14 permits detent web 46 to pass into and out of opening 34. Thus, pin 28 can be hinged upon hinge web 44 and have detent web 46 snap out of detent opening 34 so that pin 28 can be swung almost at right angles with respect to the general plane of frame structure 14. It is in this position that hair is wound around roller 16, carried upon pin 28. Pin 28 can then be swung back into the general plane of frame structure 14 and its detent web 46 snapped back into opening 34 so that side rails and 22 are retained around the outside cylindrical surface 16 of roller 12.

The preferred material for the frame structure 14 is polypropylene. Other polymer composition materials may be used in this service, but polypropylene is by far the most satisfactory presently known material for polypropylene actually gets stronger and more flexible with continued bending. Thus, the hinge web 44 of this structure would have a satisfactorily long life. Other polymer composition materials which are satisfactory, but would have a shorter life due to ultimate failure of hinge web '44 are such materials as polyethylene, polyollimer, polyurethane, nylon, Delrin, acetyl, styrene and the like. For the best life with any particular material, the hinge web 44 should be dimensioned in accordance with the physical characteristics of that material.

Referring now to FIG. 6 a section through a portion of a suitable mold structure for the production of frame structure 14 is shown therein. Also shown is a portion of such a frame structure after the polymer composition material has been injected into the mold. The mold structure is generally indicated at 48 and comprises an upper half 50 and lower half 52. The upper half 50 has cavity 54 therein, which defines the upper half configuration of pin 28 and cavity 56 therein which defines the upper half configuration of projection 32. Cavity 56 continues through the upper mold half 50 to define the upper half configuration of the remainder of frame structure 14.

The upper and lower halves 50 and 52 part along a center parting line, generally lying in the center lineplane of the frame structure 14. Accordingly, cavities 58 and 60 are formed in the lower half 52 and correspond to the upper half cavities so as to define the structure shown in FIGS. 2 through 5. As is shown in FIG. 6, raised bosses 62 and 64 are formed between the cavities and cooperate to define the portion of detent web 46 most closely adjacent the main portion of pin 28. Detent opening 34, and the portion of detent web 46 extending into opening 34 are formed by plunger 66 which is positioned generally upon the parting line of mold halves 50 and 52 and extends into contact with raised bosses 62 and 64 so as to fully define the structure.

The process for making the hair curler of this invention comprises the steps of providing a mold having a suitable cavity to define the frame structure described above, with a mold having two halves separating upon a parting line and which defines the major portion of the structure. The mold further has a plunger acting along the parting line which defines the detent opening and the terminal portion of the detent web. The next step in the process includes injecting into the mold cavity, so as to at least substantially fill it, a suitable polymer composition material having physical characteristics which permits the material to act as a self hinge when molded into a suitable hinge web.

As noted above, polypropylene is the preferred polymer composition material, but there are a number of additional polymer composition materials which will provide a reasonable life when the hinge web is designed taking their physical characteristics into consideration. The next step in the process comprises permitting the polymer composition material to solidify while in the mold and while the detent web is positioned within the detent opening. This permits the frame structure to have an unstressed position in the detented position. The next step includes ejecting the frame structure from the mold. The following step comprises pivoting the pin out of the remainder of the frame including moving the detent web out of the detent opening. That step is followed by the step placing a hair curler roller upon the pin. The final step includes swinging the pin back into the central position with the detent web positioned in the detent opening. This, of course, requires resilient distortion of the parts so that the pin is firmly, but selectively retained in the detented position. The hair curler is then in condition for packaging, shipment and sale.

This invention having been described in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and changes within the spirit of the invention and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A hair curler, said hair curler comprising:

a frame structure, said frame structure having side rails joined to first and second ends to define a substantially rectangular frame;

said frame structure further comprising a pin, said pin having a hinge end and a detent end, said frame structure lying in a plane, which plane passes substantially through the center of said side rails, said ends and said pin;

a tubular roll positioned upon said pin and between said side rails and said ends, the improvement comprising:

a hinge web integrally formed on said pin and on said first end so that said entire frame structure is integrall'y formed;

outer faces and interior walls on said ends and said side rails, said inner walls on said ends substantially facing each other and said inner walls on said side rails substantially facing each other, said inner walls and said outer faces lying at an acute angle with respect to the plane so that said frame can be injection molded;

a detent opening formed in said second end and a detent web formed on said detent end of said pin, said detent web entering said detent opening adjacent the interior wall of said second end facing said first end, said detent opening extending through said second end and substantially uniformly increasing in size so that it is larger on the side of said second end facing away from said first end so that said detent opening and at least a portion of said detent web can be formed by a mold plug pulled out of said second end and in a direction away from said first end;

said frame structure being made of flexible polymer composition material so that said pin can be deflected so that said detent web is out of said detent opening and said pin can be moved relative to said side walls by bending of said hinge web, said hinge web restraining said hinge end of said pin with respect to said first end of said frame structure.

5 6 References Cited 3,200,826 8/ 1965 Solomon 13241 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,250,281 5/1966 Gresham et a1. 132-41 5/ 1943 Caldera 13241 FOREIGN TE 11/1953 Patrina 1 41 5 14,678 1896 Gl'fiat Blltaln.

5/1955 Field 132-41 X 5/1960 Gresham et a1- 132 41 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Przmary Exammer.

8/1965 Sidelman 132F 11 R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner. 

